As with each of our first two days in Tokyo, our last full day was full of
both old and new Tokyo.

Our day began with a quick visit to a Buddhist shrine located, literally,
outside the front door of our ryokan (guest house).
Afterward, we headed to west
Tokyo and Meiji-jingu, Tokyo's most venerated Shinto shrine. The approach
to the main temple is dramatic, as you enter through the enormous torii and walk
through dense forest to the main temple area.

The main temple at Meiji-jingo.

The principal gate to the main temple at the Inner Garden of Meiji-jingu.
At Meiji-jingu, we were lucky enough to stumble upon a
traditional Shinto wedding. The procession worked its way around the
Meiji-jingu grounds following the ceremony.



The bride (with her groom) was beautiful in her traditional
costume and makeup.

From old to new. After Meiji-jingu, we headed to nearby
Harajuku. One of its more notable streets is Takeshita-dori, where every
Sunday (when we were there) teenagers swarm by the thousand to shop, mingle, and
generally have a good time.
Nearby, budding
anarchists gather in their Sunday best. Costumes of all types could be
seen, with a particular emphasis on goth.

More crazy Japanese kids. It was, quite literally, like
Halloween. Except Halloween occurs every Sunday afternoon.
We also took in
a museum which, in addition to being enormous, was wonderfully
entertaining. The Edo-Tokyo Museum tells the history of Tokyo, formerly
known as Edo, with wonderful artifacts, life size replicas, dioramas, and other
very engaging displays-- all in an enormous facility.

We ended the day with a dinner with friends from Michigan, Praba
Kawai and her son Tomo, who live in Tokyo. It was great seeing them and
catching up with them after several years, and we had a wonderful meal to
boot. Thanks again for treating us Tomo!
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